Tag 19 (Arhus (?); Thursday 99.04.29; distance = 100.95; time = 5:45;
odometer = 2167.7) -- When the alarm went off this morning, I just didn't
feel like getting up. It was already windy, so I figured I could use the
sleep. Even still, I had a decent take down and was rolling at 7:30. Of
course, I didn't exactly know where I was going. I had 2 possible targets
to catch ferries -- one due west, one due north. The wind was blasting out
of the northwest. I did the right thing, since as the day wore on, it came
mostly out of the north. I stopped at a gas station to buy a map. They only
had general ones, but I got enough info just glancing at one to proceed. I
was on a major road with a lot of traffic, but it had an excellent bike
lane like yesterday. In Roskilde, I had to look at public maps posted here
and there. I figured out how to get out of town, and I found myself on a
bike "route," as in "Cyclists: follow these signs." So for the rest of the
morning, I followed these very well-labeled signs. The route basically
paralleled a busy road (23) where bikes were forbidden. There was a really
neat historical Dutch-style windmill in some town along the way. The really
cool part was that it was turning AND milling flour. The wind was cranking
really hard, and I didn't pay any attention to the little hills on the way,
but left turns made me sigh and right turns made me groan. The wind made it
seem really cold, too. I had to wear my gloves the whole time, despite
cloudless sunlight. Finally, I got to Kalunborg and I found the ferry. It
didn't leave till 17:00. Hmmm. Four hours to kill. They also told me to
come back later, since they just took over the passenger ferry business
(they specialize in cargo trucks) and didn't know what to charge. So I rode
around till I found a city map. I re-drew pertinent sections and used those
notes to visit a public W.C. Aaah ... OK. Next to the bank to change my
last Swiss francs and find out just how much this money's worth -- things
aren't as expensive as I'd thought ... good. I went to the tourist office
and got a map for about $3 US. She also gave me info about what to try when
I land in Arhus. She said I should try a hostel. Ya sure -- because I'm a
good sport, I'll try ... so back at the dock, I bought my ticket (the first
cyclist?) and waited around in the burning sun and freezing wind until I
could load my bike. Now I'm on the ferry about « there. I ate in the
cafeteria on the ship, and I feel well fed with decent food for the first
time in a while. We'll see what awaits in Arhus. I fear all will be closed
when I get there at 20:30. I got off the ferry and rode directly without
problems to the hostel. They were cool and had no problem with an old fart
like me. So after a shower, I'm getting prepped for a super early assault.
![[Bike]](./only2500b.gif)
